The Labor enquirer., 1887-01-08

down innocent and starving Wsn.'
women and children. at East St L6Qi6
and other points; rand during eight
| Idays Of this reign Of terror the congress
lof the United States frittersd it, time
awav over pension and other approprfe-
tiop, bills. and never raised 9 band ~
save the country from TIE destruction
which was then threatened" He aid
the negligence of the peoples "represei-
tstiyes" was criminal. and that
they should be treated as criminals.
He was In California during those
bitter days of the Southwest strike, and
when asked IN large meeting, in San
Francisco, what he would do, If he had
the power. he said, II would call upon
the people to march en- masse to the
capital at Washington, demand their
rights. and if they are refused. then
overthrow the traitors who, sit there as
the peoples servants. but who are in
reality their betrayers p Ma ~
Mr.. Buchanan then went on To speak
in general terms of remedies for The
present ills. He advocated the aboli-
ition OF the wage system and the substi-
tuition of universal CO operation. He
spoke of the folly of hoping for any re-
lief from either OF the old political par
ties, and urged the thorough orgsnizs-
tion Of the producers into party Of
their own, which shall make a grand
effort al the polls to settle the labor
questionp peaceably, predicting at the
same time, that ''if this is not done
within FIVE years there will be serious
irouble-to put it mildly"
| He gave some points from the history
of labor organizations, particularly the
Trade Unions and the Knights Of Labor,
and urged all who are wagee workers or
in sympathy with the movement for the
ameioration Of the condition of the
| pr ducing class to- join hands in the
latter organization, whose principles are
the grandest ever promulgated by any
people or society, and whose member
ship now is publicly reported and the
report is not far wrong) at more than a
million men and women.
The speaker closed with a peroration
which was received with rounds Of ap-
plause as he took his seat.
The ENQQIRER man then introduce d
Master Charlie Hirsh. who recited in
excellent style poem entitled
"EIghty-Eight," which was received
with extended applause.
The chairman then announced thai
supper would be ready in few minutes
for those who wished to retire eariy,
aud as quick as you could say "JacA
Robinson" the chairs were stacked uI
or carted outside and the dance began
Talk about your Germans" your ''in
augural balis," your "club hops;" nevel
has it been the fortune of ye humble
"crank"to look upon so much real en-.
joyment in ball room as he saw on
Friday night, December 81. Over 20(
men and women. youths and maidens
bows and girls, joined in for a whole
souled time; though l suspect that som,
of them had to be half-soled the mex
day. They waltzed. they polkad, they
"swung on the corners" and they
chatted. laughed, and while one portion
of the gay crowd enjoyed itself thus, th'
other sat at tables loaded down (the OK
preston is old, but nothing else fits thil
case) with turkey, chicken, ham, salads
sauces, cakes, confections, and every
thing good to eat that an eplcure coul(
name and good hot coffee and tea wa
considered strong enough to wash
down. They danced and feasted unit
O'Clock in the morning. and still thu
supply of good things provided by th'
committee on feed" seemed proc
against the onslaughts made, while thu
musicians had entered 80 thoroughly
into the spirit of the occasion that theS
played on and on, and never grumblet
once. /tI
The ENQUIRER chap stayed with
'em," though he had been up almost the
whole of the previous night. He danced
once, with fair lady that is. he sidled
through the mystic mazes Of the vener.
able "Sicilian circle )" that was enough
and he took solid comfort for the rest 0
the night in sitting silently(?) watching
the merry makers, or in cornering some
patient man and pouring into his aching
ears the doctrine of the "cranks."
At $40, or twenty minutes after the
last dance, | took the "Thunderbolt," in
company with the La Junta folk, and
reached home in proper shape.
could talk for hours or write column
after column about my first visit to, La
Animas, but you can gather an idea
from what | have already written. as t.
my sentiments. But l must tell nv
readers why, in my opinion, this affail
was 80 unlike the usual entertai nmen
or dance: 1t was because everybody
"felt at home;" there was none of that
snobbish sentiment by which noodles
attempt to sho% their alleged superiority
over their fellows. Everybody was .
citizen and all were children of COM
mon Humanity nobody put on aire,'
but all conducted themselves like men